Deadly 1918 Epidemic Linked to Bird Flu, Scientists Say - New York Times
History once reminded us that while WW I killed 10 million people, the Spanish Flu killed 20 million. Now, it is no longer the Spanish Flu, and the death toll is much higher, probably due to the fact that they asked Mayor Nagin' for help with the numbers.
Why can't the Times refer to the disease by the name it has been called for nearly 90 years? Terribly UN-politically correct, dear chap. Inflating the numbers and listening to two quacks is one thing, but identifying an influenza as being of a particular ethnic origin is definitely a no-no, especially since Spanish has long since been replaced with Hispanic, Latino, and half a dozen other bastardizations over the past two decades.
These viruses evolve - sorry ID'ers but that's simply the truth - quite rapidly and pity the poor souls who knew so little of hygiene, and like Europe today, didn't even have the benefit of climate-controlled sick rooms in which to rest and fight the disease. Europe of 1918, Asia of 2005; take your pick as to the dirtiest place imaginable but for heavens sake don't visit either.
50 million. Somewhat more than the total of Europe's heat-related deaths since that time, but not anything to sneeze at even if it is a grossly exaggerated number.
And that's the point. To frighten you because when you're frightened you pay more attention and paying more attention means watching more news and reading more newspapers and boy oh boy but doesn't THAT sell laundry detergent like nobody's business.
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